U.S. Private Sector Strengthens Collaboration with ASEAN to Advance Sustainability in Health, Environment, and Energy Sectors

(Jakarta) On December 2, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) convened its annual ASEAN Business Mission at the ASEAN Secretariat headquarters under the theme “Advancing Sustainable Development in the Health, Environment, and Energy Sectors for Resilient Growth in ASEAN.” ​
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​This year’s mission highlighted the critical role of public-private collaboration in addressing ASEAN’s sustainable development priorities. The USABC delegation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the region’s transition toward a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future. The delegation further explored actionable solutions in strengthening health systems, promoting environmental resilience, and accelerating the shift to renewable energy, which is a critical element to ASEAN’s digital transformation goals. ​
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​The delegation, led by USABC Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director Ambassador (ret.) Brian McFeeters, engaged with high-level ASEAN stakeholders, including H.E. Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic Community, as well as representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to ASEAN, and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). ​
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​During the discussions, the delegation emphasized the importance of policy harmonization, innovative financing mechanisms, and regional integration to achieve ASEAN’s long-term sustainability goals. Key topics included promoting sustainable health financing and preventive healthcare; advancing environmental sustainability through circular economy models, ecosystem resilience, and enhanced transparency via sustainability reporting standards; and accelerating the renewable energy transition by scaling clean energy deployment, modernizing grid infrastructure, and leveraging carbon pricing and trading mechanisms to promote low-carbon growth. ​
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​Ambassador McFeeters highlighted the shared vision between ASEAN and the U.S. private sector, stating, “Sustainability is central to ASEAN’s long-term development. From resilient healthcare systems to clean energy and environmental stewardship, advancing sustainability in these sectors is crucial to achieving inclusive and resilient growth across the region. Our delegation also thanked Deputy Secretary-General Singh for his continued strong role in ASEAN Member States’ negotiations toward a Digital Economic Framework Agreement.”